Santa Clara County Biographies
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
MRS. CATHERINE F. BRATTAN
FIRST WOMAN PROBATION
OFFICER IN CALIFORNIA
SURNAMES: O'Donnell, McCarton,
Since the entrance of women into the active civic life of the community during
the past generation, so gradually and naturally have they worked to bring about
much needed reforms, that only by comparison with another day can one judge of
the forward strides that have been made. Especially is this true in the hundreds
of cases that come under the jurisdiction of courts, particularly where the
lives and futures of young people are concerned. Numbered among San Jose's
public-spirited women whose interests are ever on the side of the community's
welfare is Mrs. Catherine F. Brattan, who has been connected with the probation
work of Santa Clara County since its inception.
Catherine F. O'Donnell, as she was known in maidenhood, was born in Northern
Pennsylvania, the daughter of Thomas and Margaret (McCarton) O'Donnell. She was
educated in the public schools of her native state and Ovid Academy, N.Y. Coming
to California in about 1886, she entered the Sacramento Business College, where
she was graduated, after which she continued with the institution as a teacher
and then served as a court reporter. In Sacramento she became the wife of G. J.
Brattan, a native of England. During the year of 1895, Mrs. Brattan did much
volunteer social service work and particularly in the line of children's welfare
work. This brought her into prominence, so that when the probation commission
for the county was named by the judge of the Superior Court she was appointed a
member. In 1910 she was appointed probation officer and since then has served
continuously. She is probably the first woman probation officer in California
and has served under six judges. It is a difficult matter to estimate the amount
of good she has accomplished along these lines; her love for the work and the
interest she takes in the welfare of the children who come under her supervision
has borne good fruit and her influence and efforts for the betterment of mankind
places her to the front as a county official. Since her appointment no less than
5000 children and 300 adults have passed through the court and all the children
have been made better by having known her for she takes great joy in the work of
helping the unfortunate catch a vision of the higher plane of living.
Mr. and Mrs. Brattan are the parents of one son, Joseph G., a graduate of St.
Joseph's high school; he also attended Stanford for a time, Santa Clara College
and the University of California agricultural school at Davis, and is now a
rancher and packer in Chico.
Mrs. Brattan is well fitted by training and temperament for this important post,
and has been the means of accomplishing untold good. While deeply interested in
her work, she is public spirited in all that concerns the upbuilding of the
community and ever ready to lend a helping hand. She is a regular communicant of
St. Joseph's Church.
Transcribed by Marie Clayton, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara
County, California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 516